Stop iOS keyboard from disappearing when typing text on websites?

Question

Level 1

5 points

Stop iOS keyboard from disappearing when typing text on websites?

Not sure if this is an iOS 6 issue, iOS, or website coding issue, but please let me know if there is any solution.

When visiting a website and type text into a text field, the keyboard often disappears randomly, causing me to type onto the web page itself, thus inadvertantly clicking on a link, thereby losing all data that was typed. This problem happens on at least 50% of websites, if not more, rendering the iPad essentially useless for data entry of web-based composition. The Apple Support Forum website is not having this issue, though, so perhaps it is due to various server-side scripting deployed by the offending websites? Can I make the keyboard NOT disappear randomly? Doesn't matter if I use Safari, Chrome, Opera, or Facebook App.

Thanks!

iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, iOS 5.1

Posted on Oct 5, 2012 7:50 AM

Reply

Answer 1

iamjeremie

Level 4

1,310 points

Oct 5, 2012 7:52 AM in response to oslodude

Are you sure you are not touching the key at the bottom right by mistake whose goal is to hide the keyboard?

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Answer 2

oslodude Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 5, 2012 8:04 AM in response to iamjeremie

No (I am not an idiot). Try for example, entering a job title at http://www.salary.com/ . Can't enter more than 2 characters on my iPad before BLOOP! The keyboard is gone and I have accidentally clicked on one of the underlying ads or links.

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Answer 3

Ralph9430

Level 7

21,923 points

Oct 5, 2012 8:05 AM in response to oslodude

The keyboard on my iPad always stays up until I either tap above the keyboard or tap the keyboard key. Perhaps you are inadvertently doing one of those causing the keyboard to disappear?

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Answer 4

iamjeremie

Level 4

1,310 points

Oct 5, 2012 8:07 AM in response to oslodude

I never said you are an idiot. I said by mistake because mistakes can happen.

I went on that website and had no problem typing anything I wanted in the search box.

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Answer 5

oslodude Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 5, 2012 8:12 AM in response to iamjeremie

So I tried it on my wife's iPad 3 and there are no problems. Maybe it is only an issue with iPad 2? I think it also was a problem before iOS 6, but perhaps it is worse now? Not sure.

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Answer 6

iamjeremie

Level 4

1,310 points

Oct 5, 2012 8:15 AM in response to oslodude

I have the iPad 2. I think it's more a problem with yours, like something is wrong in the software part.

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Answer 7

Bixboss

Level 1

15 points

Oct 5, 2012 8:17 AM in response to oslodude

Just typed into the boxes in that web site you quoted using my iPad2. No problem, text entered perfectly.

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Answer 8

oslodude Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 5, 2012 8:37 AM in response to Bixboss

Thanks for the feedback. You two have also upgraded to iOS 6? Seems it must be something with my device, since even websites like Google have the problem. This could possibly also explain why my keyboard is extremely slow in responding to input, often missing letters when I type, forcing me to go back and manually spell-check the document, since Apple spell-check generally does a ****-poor job of choosing the right words.

If I go into iTunes and Restore the iPad to default/reinstall (or whatever the feature is called), will this possibly fix the problem? Restoring my apps and settings from iTunes after a reset shouldn't bring back the keyboard bug, if it gets fixed...

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Answer 9

iamjeremie

Level 4

1,310 points

Oct 5, 2012 8:44 AM in response to oslodude

I would do that yes.

Backup, restore as new, see if it works, if so, import my backup and see if it still works. It seems to be an os problem so it shouldn't be broken by your backup but you never know.

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Answer 10

Bixboss

Level 1

15 points

Oct 5, 2012 8:47 AM in response to oslodude

Yes, I have iOS6. Probably a reset would work and solve the/any problems, but be sure to do a backup to iCloud first.

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Answer 11

oslodude Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 11, 2012 4:54 AM in response to oslodude

Thanks for the help. After restoring the iPad, it still has the latency/problem, so it must be an issue with this specific unit. Hoping it nonetheless lasts at least another 3-5 years.

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Answer 12

AndySR9C

Level 1

0 points

Dec 1, 2012 2:21 AM in response to oslodude

I have the same problem with my iPad2. When I got to type in a password, the keyboard pops up and then retreats like a frightened squirrel. This is definitely not user error.

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Answer 13

ikeshima

Level 1

6 points

Dec 18, 2012 3:00 PM in response to oslodude

If it's any consolation, it's happening on my iPad (3) as well as my iPhone 4. Both of which are using iOS 6.0.1.

Will upgrade to iOS 6.0.2 tomorrow to see if this fixes the problem.

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Answer 14

Dec 23, 2012 4:53 PM in response to oslodude

I also have the problem on my iPad 2. Looks like it started with update 6.0.1 or 2. Very annoying.

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Answer 15

timehat

Level 1

4 points

Dec 30, 2012 6:52 PM in response to oslodude

Happens on my 3rd gen iPad (iOS 6.0.1). Believe I've seen it on my wife's iPhone 4 (also on iOS 6). Salary.com worked fine for me, but I always seem to have a hard time on Google's search box. I think it's when websites use javascript key events (onkeydown, onkeyup, onkeypressed, etc) that might trigger iOS to close then quickly reopen the keyboard (perhaps the Google search, for example, replaces the contents of the search field as it does autocomplete and refocuses the input cursor into the field (causing the keyboard to flicker)... whether it's Google (and other website's fault) or Apple's seems less important than the fact that it seems to happen in lots of high profile places--seems like Apple should add a 100 ms delay or something before choosing to actually close the keyboard (in case it's supposed to open again within that timeout...).

Very annoying.

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